News & Events

On the Boards at the Center

January 9, 2019

The online book, Inspiring Action for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control, co-authored by CCL director, Mae Davenport, has reached over 350 downloads! See what all the buzz is about and download the book by clicking here.

October 15, 2018

The Center for Changing Landscapes will have quite the presence at the 2018 Minnesota Water Resources Conference! Amit Pradhananga will be the conference’s plenary speaker, presenting on achieving water quality outcomes through relationship building. Other presentations include Jaren Peplinski and Emily Kreiter who will be presenting on a CCL project using social science survey research to understand and articulate the value of water to Minnesotans. Sarah Fellows and Amit Pradhananga will be sharing key findings from two surveys given to SWCD staff and LGU staff throughout the state of MN. The findings illustrate staff perceived expertise related to groundwater, perspectives on groundwater quality and quantity issues, and individual and organizational capacities to protect groundwater. Finally, Jennifer Moeller will be sharing maps displaying survey responses for questions asked in two MN watersheds. The maps are visual depictions of survey responses to pressing questions like "How much do you value clean water in your community?" or "How likely are you to adopt a conservation practice in the future?" These maps make it easier for city, state or community planners to direct their conservation efforts to parts of the watershed that are interested in particular programs. We are excited to share our research with those in attendance!

June 26, 2018

Congratulations to Center for Changing Landscapes researcher, Amit Pradhananga, for the recent publication in Open Rivers journal, in which he was a contributing author! Read the article here to learn about the work being done by the University of Minnesota, with the help of the farming community, to improve agricultural practices and water quality simultaneously.

May 21, 2018

What makes water conservation efforts successful? Director of the Center for Changing Landscapes, Mae Davenport, points out in a recent Star Tribune article that it "is not to tell the landowner what to do...It’s building capacity and building community around conservation.” While some are finding water quality improvements hard to see, Scott county has experienced success in their water conservation strategy that was built on years of landowner surveys and social science research by Dr. Davenport. To learn more about the history and challenges of Minnesota's water conservation efforts and where we are heading, you can access the article here!

September 9, 2017

Mae Davenport, Director of the Center for Changing Landscapes, interviewed with MN North Shore's WTIP to discuss her integrative research project assessing the affects of climate change to nature-based tourism on the North Shore. Listen to the interview by clicking here!

September 5, 2017

Karen Lutsky, Assistant Professor of landscape architecture and member of the Great Lakes Design Lab, recently published an article in Places journal titled, "Curious Methods: On the mud flat of the Great Salt Lake, in search of a landscape practice that 'probes' but does not 'prove.'" To access the full article, click here and enjoy!

May 25, 2017

An interview with the Director of the Center for Changing Landscapes, Mae Davenport, was featured in the North Dakota Soybean Grower magazine. The article highlights one of Dr. Davenport's projects located in the Red River Basin and discusses what drives and constrains landowners and farmers when making conservation decisions.

To learn more about landowners' and farmers' values, beliefs, norms and behaviors regarding water and conservation decisions in the Red River Basin, click here to access the full article and scroll to pages 30-32.

March 7, 2017

The Center for Changing Landscapes is excited to announce Director, Mae Davenport's, new e-book titled, Inspiring Actiorn for Nonpoint Source Pollution Control: A Manual for Water Resource Protection.

Inspiring Action lays out a new approach for water resource protection, informed by systems thinking and a model of community capacity. The manual draws upon decades of engagement in conservation management and years of applied research on conservation behavior. The guiding principles presented in Inspiring Action are backed by the latest social science and have been field-tested in Minnesota. Inside, you will find statistics, stories, and strategies that are useful in project design and evaluation, as well as leveraging support for conservation programming.

To gain access to this innovative resource, click here for a free download!

The University of Minnesota’s Center for Changing Landscapes will conduct a survey using funding from a state proposal passed earlier this month. Researchers hope to use the survey’s findings to create recommendations that will boost park attendance and make park amenities more consistent across the state.... “The foundation of the project is an interest in connecting people and the outdoors,” Center director and the project’s lead Mae Davenport said. The University has been working on the questionnaire for the last two years, Davenport said. The same survey will be used in the entire state.MN Daily